Sometimes there are just too many good releases and not enough time to review them all. These releases are definitely worth checking out – so I did a few quick reviews here. Edward Rogers “Porcelain “ Birmingham UK bred Edward Rogers made NYC his home and has put together a great rock and roll album. Part T.Rex…
Category Archives: Power Pop Review
Justin Levinson and Bill Schulz
Justin Levinson and The Valcours “This Side Of Me, This Side Of You” Boston based Levinson has been exploring other sounds since his debut years ago, and this new album really showcases that growth. With his new band The Valcours he opens things up with a strong piano melody and punchy beat on “Water Wears…
Explorers Club “Grand Hotel”
After the heavenly Beach Boys harmonies of Freedom Wind, Explorers Club moves forward five years to the early 70′s AM soft rock era. Starting with a Pet Sounds styled instrumental intro, the horns blast out the first single “Run Run Run,” a hook filled gem with lush orchestration similar to The 5th Dimension. Then the guitar…
Oberon Rose and The Backpeddlers
Oberon Rose “Wunjo” Connecticut’s Tom Oberon leans heavily on classic sixties influences like The Kinks, Beatles, T.Rex and more on his debut, Wunjo. The sweet melody “Young Goodman Brown” flows nicely and the guitar rhythm reminds me of the Zombies a little. The brilliant jangle on “One Man Show Of Sorrow” showcases this gem which…
Throwback Suburbia “Shot Glass Souvenir”
Its comforting to know that bands like Portland’s Throwback Suburbia “get it.” This third album builds on the band’s consistent sound and musical development. The opener “Give and Take” is an emotional hook-filled gem with a thrilling bridge and jangle filled rhythm. The signature sneering vocals of Jimi Evans and mastery of composition come forward…
Archie Powell & The Exports “Metronome”
Only 2 years after their last album, Archie Powell & the Exports’ have a new one coming this May. Here is the first single, “Metronome.” Powell says the album title Great Ideas in Action is a Calvin & Hobbes reference (anyone who can describe the strip in question is entitled to free admission to Exports shows…
Chris Alvy Band “Art Noise”
After a wild debut EP last year, The Chris Alvy Band is back with a more realized full length album. Joined by Fernando Perdomo (who also produced and engineered) it re-does a few of the previous EP tracks and adds several more. Not an easy band to categorize, they have a loose guitar rock style…
Son of Skooshny and Cheap Perfume
Son of Skooshny “Lovers Leap of Faith” This is the project of Skooshny founder Mark Breyer and its a pretty good combination of power pop and roots based rock and roll. “Another Time” has a touch of Tom Petty and a terrific buzzing guitar riff. Breyer’s vocal cadence also resembles Petty on the wonderfully written ”Candy Air.”…
JTG Implosion and The Connection
The JTG Implosion “All The People Some of The Time” This resissue of Joe Gidding’s band from 2002 is a welcome addition if you’ve missed it when it was part of Not Lame Record’s catalog (which is now gone forever). This is a classic melodic power pop album that needs to be re-discovered. Giddings crunchy riffs…
Eight by Eight “The Anatomy Of An Apricot”
The internet has enabled like minded artists to collaborate like never before. 8X8 is the transatlantic collaboration between Lane Steinberg and Ukrainian musician Alex Khodchenko. Like The Britannicas, they both live on different continents, and have never met in person, but through e-mail they’ve managed to create an amazing work of musical art. This is…